Mutability Patterns Across the Spike Glycoprotein Reveal the Diverging and Lineage-specific Evolutionary Space of SARS-CoV-2.

ABSTRACT: Mutations in the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 allow the virus to probe the sequence space in search of higher-fitness states. New sublineages of SARS-CoV-2 variants-of-concern (VOCs) continuously emerge with such mutations. Interestingly, the sites of mutation in these sublineages vary between the VOCs. Whether such differences reflect the random nature of mutation appearance or distinct evolutionary spaces of spike in the VOCs is unclear. Here we show that each position of spike has a lineage-specific likelihood for mutations to appear and dominate descendent sublineages. This likelihood can be accurately estimated from the lineage-specific mutational profile of spike at a protein-wide level. The mutability environment of each position, including adjacent sites on the protein structur

SUBMITTER: Rojas Chavez RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8820662 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature